The write start - Jennifer Hallissy 2010

Do - Listmania
Guidelines for the Activities

There’s an expression that says: you are what you do. That makes perfect sense to me. It doesn’t make much difference who you think you are if you don’t do anything about it. It’s the action that counts. Writing is a perfect example. Who are writers? People who write. Day in and day out, for reasons big and small, people who pick up a pen or pencil to make a list, write a letter, or jot a note are writers.

The daily habit of recording or communicating your thoughts in writing is what defines your role as a writer. When kids learn to make writing one of their written-in-stone daily habits, like reading, brushing their teeth, eating their vegetables, and playing outside, they too are writers. The following group of activities are wonderful no-fuss ways to get writing off of your kids’ minds and on to their schedules.

21

Listmania

WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE, my sister Maria wrote about her morning routine:

What I do in the morning:

wake up

p

sharpen my wits

watch t.v. eat breakfast

get dressed

I know, priceless. I have the list committed to memory since it’s been framed and hanging on the bathroom wall in my parents’ house for years. Ahh, the wisdom (and wit) of the young.

There’s nothing like lists to put things in perspective. That’s their intended purpose, after all. Lists organize, compartmentalize, prioritize. They make life predictable, helping children to anticipate what is coming next (kids love that!).

In my humble opinion, they are one of life’s most useful tools. And just in case you need more convincing, see my following list of lists.

MATERIALS

∗ paper

∗ pencil, marker, or crayon

HOW-TO

The basic gist of the list: number down the left side of the page, and record one important item at a time alongside each number.

Variations

For Scribblers: Parents can write simple to-do lists for Scribblers. Keep lists for the little ones short and sweet—three to four items max. Checkmarks are hard for pre-writers to manage so, true to their name, I usually encourage Scribblers to scribble items out as they complete them.

For Spellers: Show Spellers how to put a box to the left of each number on their list of about four to five simple items, which they write themselves. Then they can check off things as they go.

For Storytellers: Storytellers can handle making their own list, of no more than seven items.

For Scholars: Once children become comfortable using lists as a tool, there are unlimited list possibilities to explore. Check out some list suggestions below.

A LIST OF LISTS

shopping list: things to buy

wish list: things you want someone else to buy for you (please)

to-do list: tasks that you want to get done

honey-do list: tasks that you want someone else to do for you (please)

goal list: important things you want to accomplish in the future

play list: songs you want to hear

running lists: frequently updated lists (such as books you want to read, shows you want to watch, movies you want to see, places you want to go, food you want to try, adventures you want to have, people you want to see, or travel destinations)

hot/not list: things that are awesome and things that are so last week

packing list: what to bring

guest list: who to invite

homework list: assignments to complete

forget-me-not list: things to remember

price list: costs of different things

phone list: people to call